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Prayer Tip: Finding Joy in the Darkness

Posted Dec 3, 2017

Daily Scripture

Psalm 30:5b

Weeping may linger for the night,but joy comes with the morning.

Jeremiah 31:13b

I will turn their mourning into joy,I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Prayer Tip

I serve as the Funeral Program Director at Resurrection. It is my privilege to help families plan funerals and memorial services for their loved ones. Though I can’t take away the pain of a loss, I can do a little something to make coordinating a service to celebrate their loved one’s life just a bit easier. So far this year, those in our church family have lost 397 loved ones, and our pastors have been involved in 133 funerals/memorial services.

While so many of us are looking forward to the Christmas season with joy, at least 397 families will celebrate their first Christmas while missing someone special. I’m thinking of some who have passed who were in their nineties, who had lived a good, long life but left behind a spouse of more than seventy years. I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one to suicide. I’m thinking of parents who lost infants, school-age children, and adult children. I’m thinking of those who are grateful their mother/father/sister/brother/spouse is no longer fighting battles against cancer/diabetes/MS, but who are in deep mourning because, even though that person may be whole and healed with Jesus, they are no longer here.

As Pastor Adam often reminds us, “The worst thing is never the last thing.” We believe this because as Christians we have hope in resurrection after death. But a loss is still a loss. As we begin this Advent season, let us remember in our prayers those who are grieving.

Lord God,

We know you are with us always and you understand our emotions. For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, give them your peace, comfort, strength, and love. Help the rest of us to support them, and use us as instruments of reassurance of your presence. As we look forward to celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world, remind us that we, too, can help bring your joy to earth.

Amen.

- Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Funeral and Prayer Program Director

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Angela LaVallie Tinsley

Angela serves as the Funeral and Prayer Program Director, overseeing on-site funerals and assisting with prayer classes, vigils, walk, retreats, and other events. She began working at Resurrection in April 2007 and in that time has worked with the Singles, Seniors, Young Adults, and Guest Connections ministries.

I serve as the Funeral Program Director at Resurrection. It is my privilege to help families plan funerals and memorial services for their loved ones. Though I can’t take away the pain of a loss, I can do a little something to make coordinating a service to celebrate their loved one’s life just a bit easier. So far this year, those in our church family have lost 397 loved ones, and our pastors have been involved in 133 funerals/memorial services.

While so many of us are looking forward to the Christmas season with joy, at least 397 families will celebrate their first Christmas while missing someone special. I’m thinking of some who have passed who were in their nineties, who had lived a good, long life but left behind a spouse of more than seventy years. I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one to suicide. I’m thinking of parents who lost infants, school-age children, and adult children. I’m thinking of those who are grateful their mother/father/sister/brother/spouse is no longer fighting battles against cancer/diabetes/MS, but who are in deep mourning because, even though that person may be whole and healed with Jesus, they are no longer here.

As Pastor Adam often reminds us, “The worst thing is never the last thing.” We believe this because as Christians we have hope in resurrection after death. But a loss is still a loss. As we begin this Advent season, let us remember in our prayers those who are grieving.

Lord God,

We know you are with us always and you understand our emotions. For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, give them your peace, comfort, strength, and love. Help the rest of us to support them, and use us as instruments of reassurance of your presence. As we look forward to celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world, remind us that we, too, can help bring your joy to earth.